David Toop

David Toop
Toop at Punktfestivalen 2025
Background information
Born (1949-05-05) 5 May 1949
Enfield, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Author
  • musician
  • college professor
  • curator
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • flute
  • electronics
Years active1970–present
Labels
Websitedavidtoopblog.com

David Toop (born 5 May 1949) is an English musician, author, curator, sound artist, and academic, widely known for his work on improvisation, sound culture, and listening practices. He was a long-standing contributor to The Wire and The Face, and a member of the British new wave band The Flying Lizards.

He has been active across experimental music, sound art, ethnography, and writing for more than five decades. Toop has performed on a wide array of instruments and sound-making devices, authored influential books on sound and popular music, and held senior academic appointments at the University of the Arts London (UAL). He is Emeritus Professor at the London College of Communication (LCC).